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The Democratic Alliance (DA) has formally written to Minister of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO), Ronald Lamola, demanding that he report the Islamic Republic of Iran to the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) for blatant human rights abuses in the deadly suppression of civilian protests. The death toll from the violent crackdown by the Iranian government, led by Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, is reportedly nearing 3000 as rampant anti-government protests and demonstrations sweep the country.

The principles of freedom, democracy, and human rights enshrined in the South African constitution compel Minister Lamola to execute his sworn duty, as the custodian of our foreign policy, to protect any and all global citizens against autocratic regimes which seek to stifle their right to freedom.

The UNHRC is therefore the ideal international forum wherein South African foreign policy, rooted in the constitution, can find expression on the international stage.

South Africa’s role is especially crucial in this regard given Iran’s recent accession to BRICS+, and the African National Congress’ (ANC) own very public and unapologetic proximity to Iran which has found worrying expression in South African foreign policy despite being wholly incompatible with the values for which our republic stands.

In many ways, the Iranian uprisings echo South Africa’s own struggle for freedom, including the Sharpeville massacre of 21 March 1960 and the Soweto uprising of 16 June 1976, when peaceful civilian protest was met with brutal state violence.

At those moments, the international community stood with the people of South Africa, not with the apartheid regime. Today, DIRCO and the ANC face the same moral test: whether they stand with the people of Iran, or with those who repress them.

The constitutional democracy that South Africa enjoys today is thanks to the sacrifices made by tens of thousands of South African civilians who gave their lives for freedom, democracy, and human rights, and it is our duty to them to ensure that our country uses its voice in all international fora to speak out against any regime that seeks to stamp out freedom at the violent expense of human life.

As the DA, we continue to stand for freedom. We continue to stand for democracy, and we continue to stand for human rights. That is what our forebearers fought for and that is what we value and protect in the South African constitution.

As a member of the Government of National Unity (GNU) we will not tolerate South Africa turning a blind eye to brutal authoritarian regimes at the ANC’s behest, and we certainly will not tolerate South Africa’s silence in the wake of their violent assault on innocent civilians.

Issued by Ryan Smith MP - DA Spokesperson on International Relations and Cooperation